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Publisher's Summary

A BBC Radio six-part dramatisation of Marcel Proust's groundbreaking series of novels, tracing the extraordinary story of the author's own life. Starring James Wilby and Jonathan Firth, and with a distinguished cast including Harriet Walter, Imogen Stubbs, and Corin Redgrave, this rich, multi-layered adaptation brings out all the variety and subtlety of Proust's magnificent masterpiece.

Featuring a fictional version of himself - 'Marcel' - and a host of friends, acquaintances, and lovers, In Search of Lost Time is Proust's search for the key to the mysteries of memory, time, and consciousness. As he recalls his childhood days, the sad affair of Charles Swann and Odette de Crecy, his transition to manhood, the tortures of love and the ravages of war, he realises that the simplest of discoveries can lead to astonishing possibilities.

Any adaption of literature is not really easy. This drama has reached an excellent height to make this complex novel understandable and compelling. Very sensitive, profound voice of narrator and all outstanding actors. Thanks for BBC and fiction factory produced such beautiful work!

Michael Butt's adaptation and writing is brilliant, the acting outstanding, the music atmospheric. In fine, there's everything one could wish for in a BBC drama.

Each of the six episodes is just under an hour: Swann's Way, The Budding Grove, The Guermantes Way, Sodom and Gomorrah, The Prisoner and the Fugitive, and Time Regained.

When I was a young girl, I was surrounded by francophones who all but worshipped Proust. The paeans of adoration were unending! Sadly, even into university days, I just didn't get it: I gave up on Swann's Way before it ended.

It took decades for me to approach Proust once more, read him carefully, and only then did I begin to understand and appreciate what he has to offer. While he still isn't a favorite, I do revisit him from time to time.

I highly recommend this selection. For me, it was a lovely way to spend an afternoon, madeleines included, and provided an escape from the relentless election madness.

(Note: There are some "adult situations," however, so keep this in mind should you have young children present).

After hearing this performance, I read up on the book, and this is not the book. If I hadn't experienced a similar performance of one of my favorite books, A Tale of Two Cities, I might have suspected Proust of erratic and disconcerting style, but since that is just how the performance comes across, and the performance is not the book, I honestly can't say. I can say, don't buy this if you want to hear the book.

An enchanting journey into Proust's greatest work, with the BBC's typical attention to sound quality. A difficult work is made approachable and mesmerising. Recommended to be listened to in the highest quality possible. It's a little like falling into someone else's mind.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

darren

London, United Kingdom

7/30/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Wonderful"

Any additional comments?

I have wanted to read Proust for a while now, but was always a little daunted so opted for this wonderful BBC production and loved it. I now feel ready to start all the seven original/unabridged novels. Highly recommended.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Kasey

3/15/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Brilliant performance moved me to tears at times"

Narration was brilliant felt like you were in the audience of a play than a book highly recommend downloading it

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Sasha

Epanomi Thessalonikis, Greece

12/23/12

Overall

"So glad I read it!"

I'm so glad I read it! Reading a book is always better than the watching the film, and listening to a book is so much easier... Even though it lasts almost 6 hours I thought it was worth every minute of my time and I can't wait to get the rest of the series.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

Maxine

greenhithe, United Kingdom

4/26/12

Overall

"Beautifully read."

I could not wait until I found time to listen each day. What a wonderful story made so much more vivid by the dramatisation.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

Andrew Hammond

12/9/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Did I miss something?"

What would have made In Search of Lost Time (Dramatised) better?

More likeable/relatable characters and a vaguely interesting story would be a start

Would you ever listen to anything by Marcel Proust again?

Most likely not

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

The dramatisation is fine.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from In Search of Lost Time (Dramatised)?

The parts after the introduction and before the Epilogue

Any additional comments?

I decided to use one of my credits on this book after reading numerous effusive reviews not just on this site, but from around the web; I have even seen this book described as the 'best book ever written'.After listening to a good portion of the book I just don't understand what all the fuss is about...in my view it is may be the most over rated book I have ever read

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Miss C.

5/5/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Interesting but not life changing"

I have been meaning to read this for ages, I was recommended this version and I am really glad to have listened, I found it hard to like any characters enough to care about their love lives, hugely self indulgent, but still strangely addictive

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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